In 2021 the U.S. Justice Department announced that federal agents would be required to wear body cameras when executing arrest warrants or searching buildings. A 2022 Bureau of Justice Statistics report found that 80% of local police departments in the US used body cameras. The study found that departments that used body cameras showed improvement in officer safety, increased evidence quality and reduced civilian complaints.
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
Yes
@9FBKC2Z8mos8MO
Top Agreement
I believe that police officers should have body cams. The main reason why I say this because they can be doing something wrong or illegal with the way they do their job. For example, if a police officer is beating a citizen with no reason they can get that on tape and it’s not just for citizens protection it’s also for the officers protection. There has been many officers who have been hurt by others and they should be protected as well. And I understand the job can be dangerous but they could use those body cams for Justice for them and the people in my opinion.
@FreedomEli8mos8MO
You bring up some valid points regarding the use of body cameras for police accountability and officer safety. However, it's crucial to consider privacy concerns as well. For instance, body cameras often capture sensitive situations involving citizens in their most vulnerable moments, and the widespread access and potential misuse of this footage could lead to a breach of privacy. In San Francisco, for example, there were concerns about footage from body cameras being misused or ending up in the wrong hands. How would you propose we balance the need for transparency and accountability with the right to privacy?
@Ars-Gratia-Artis3mos3MO
You're right, but it's not a reason not to have them. *Technically* no where in the constitution is an inalienable right to privacy mentioned, it's just somewhat respected. I mean, the cameras are useful, I don't think that should be denied, I just think what should be RELEASED should be vetted for safety to protect individuals involved who aren't cops.
@9JVTPYX 3mos3MO
“consider privacy concerns as well. For instance, body cameras often capture sensitive situations involving citizens in their most vulnerable moments, and the widespread access and potential misuse of this footage could lead to a breach of privacy. In San Francisco, for example, there were concerns about footage from body cameras being misused or ending up in the wrong hands.”
Majority of the time a police officers are on public property so that's like saying, sure you can't record via body cam but if you want to you can pull your phone out. About people being at their lowest point, to put it simply what does that have to do with the officers? their job is to protect and serve and if they can't protect you because they can use footage of a guy being murdered because of privacy concerns then that alone would raise a red flag. It doesn't matter where you are or might go there is going to be someone who miss uses something, this might something suc… Read more
@9F8MCCH8mos8MO
Cambridge University they discovered that the results of using body cameras resulted in an 88% decline in complaints against police officers and a 60% decline in police officers' use of force.
@9F95F29Peace and Freedom8mos8MO
For example the clips released about George Floyd would never have existed if not for police body cams and therefore the reason of his death could have been covered up.
@9FM52BD7mos7MO
“My son loved this city and this city killed my son. You could be next.” -Valerie Castille, Philando Castile’s mother, responding to a not-guilty verdict for the police officer who shot her son seven times in the front seat of his car.
“They've killed my son. They’ve killed my son” -Shirley Marshall Harrison, Jason Harrison’s mother, who had called emergency services to send trained officers to help her son through a mental health episode.
“They didn’t have to kill my son. They didn’t have to kill him.” -Jameilla Smiley,… Read more
“Every single day, parents watch their children die in the most horrific way: from the consequences of the public placing trust in a corrupt system with blood on its hands. While black citizens make up only 12% of the U.S. population, they have been killed at a higher rate than white citizens, ranging from 24%-27% of the total number of people killed by police in the last five years.”
While it is undeniably tragic that any life is unjustly taken, it's also important to consider the context. The numbers indeed show a disproportionate impact on the black community, which is a serious concern that needs to be addressed. However, it's also worth noting that the majority of police interactions with the public do not result in violence. This doesn't negate the instances of misconduct, but it does challenge the narrative that every interaction with law enforcement is a potential threat to life.
One way to address this issue could be through improved training for… Read more
@LazyV0t1ngGreen7mos7MO
While it's true that the majority of police interactions do not result in violence, it's also worth noting that even a single instance of misconduct can have a devastating impact on trust and community relations. This is why body cameras are so crucial - they serve as an impartial witness that can protect both the officer and the citizen involved.
While I agree that improved training and community involvement are essential steps toward police reform, I believe they should be considered as part of a comprehensive package, along with measures like body cameras.
For example, in Rial… Read more
I see your point, but I think it's important to consider the potential drawbacks of relying too heavily on body cameras. They are not infallible - they can be turned off, footage can be manipulated, and they only show one viewpoint of an incident. They also raise serious concerns about privacy, both for the officers wearing them and the citizens they interact with.
Also, the Rialto study you mentioned, while intriguing, is not definitive. The sample size was relatively small, and the results may not be representative of what would happen on a larger scale or in different communities.… Read more
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
Yes, this will protect the safety and rights of police officers and citizens
@9F76Q62Republican8mos8MO
If somebody you cared about was killed wrongfully you wouldn’t know because it be there word against yours
@random17345 6mos6MO
"Cameras also protect police by providing evidence that they have made a legal arrest or stop and that they followed the proper protocol. Not only can body cameras help both citizens and police officers, they can also help to improve the relationship between them." from "Who Do Police Body Cameras Help?" on navalawez.com
@9M2KJ2C5 days5D
If there were no body cameras to view, it would be your word against an officer's word, making it almost unlikely you'd win the case. But with body cameras, it would show the truth and the truth alone, no manipulation or bribery. Body cameras are necessary to keep our society safe.
@9L5TQ4M 1mo1MO
While I don't have much evidence, I do know that many people would perform crimes if they knew nobody was watching. Who's to stop a crooked cop from accepting bribes or abusing his power when the evidence the crime occurred doesn't exist? Plus they already have qualified immunity, to get rid of body cams is to give them way too much power.
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
No
@9FBKKLT 8mos8MO
Top Disagreement
If all police were required to wear body cams, this would eliminate the question of misconduct and if it occurred and to get rid of the "he said she said" conflict.
@9FF5C55 8mos8MO
Yes, I agree with this. It is the same concept as having a dash cam. It eliminates questions that could be manipulated by a party with more apparent power.
@PuzzledJ0intResolution8mos8MO
I'm thrilled to see your agreement here! You brought up an interesting comparison to dash cams. Could you share more about why you think dash cams and body cams share the same benefits?
@9FFTNGJ8mos8MO
Also, the use of bodycams would decrease the chance of misconduct in general if the officer is aware that their actions are being recorded and can be used against them.
@9FFJZFJIndependent8mos8MO
Yes, because if its a he said she said thing and they bribe the witnesses then the witness would lie
@9FF93TX8mos8MO
Yes, it is the best method of both protecting officers from untrue claims and showing direct evidence of misconduct.
@9FL2B54 7mos7MO
Body cameras should be worn at all times to make sure that police are being just and fair to citizens.
@9F95F29Peace and Freedom8mos8MO
Police should always carry body cams for both evidence of a crime and to make sure they aren’t doing anything suspicious themselves.
@9GJYLQ36mos6MO
Body cameras have revealed countless officers committing felonies/breaches of conduct - sackable offences - which would otherwise have gone unchecked were it not for the use of body cameras
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
No, it should be a police department’s or officer’s choice to wear one
@9FBFVSC8mos8MO
Top Disagreement
All officers should wear a body camera for evidence whether it be against the officer or for the officer.
@9F8MCCH8mos8MO
Body Cameras are made to protect the Officer and the Department in cases of misconduct, it only makes you look bad if you do soemthing wrong.
@9F8YRB88mos8MO
Without body cams no proof of either negative or positive conduct will be available to review our policemen. With body cameras, a safer police force is provided
@9F8MGYB8mos8MO
The officers who would choose not to wear body cameras are the ones we're worried about. The police are the violent enforcement arm of the government. They need to be surveilled in order to prevent the government from overstepping its bounds.
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
Yes, but only for patrol officers in high crime areas
@5J4LQMB4yrs4Y
Yes!!! And if anyone fails to do what a man of the law says, like "stop, hands up, etc.", then the policeman has the lawful right to arrest you. If you try to shoot him, he can defend himself and shoot you. If you shoot a policeman, you should be arrested and the punishment should be you life's punishment, no exceptions, no parole.
@56WTPKP4yrs4Y
No, police should be retrained to deescalate high-tension situations and react to dangerous suspects with less lethal force. The reason a criminal isn't afraid to shoot a cop is the same reason a soldier isn't afraid to shoot his opponent in battle. If you threaten another person with death, expect them to fight like hell to kill you first. Furthermore, police accused of abusing their power should be tried as if they never had a badge in the first place. Murder is murder regardless of who kills who.
@5LDXQRM4yrs4Y
Only In black towns/ neighborhoods
@5LDN8JL4yrs4Y
Yes but they should be able to be activated by dispatch officers, not the police officer.
@8LXQB354yrs4Y
Yes, the cameras never lie. That would help keep officers out of prison and help a lot with the investigations.
@5KX4BRQ4yrs4Y
All police should be re-trained to learn de-escalation techniques, etc. And if an officer uses excessive force at any time, they should be fired. We need a new approach to policing.
@5KJKS7Q4yrs4Y
Hell yes! #BlackLivesMatter
@57JJ5ST4yrs4Y
Regardless, eliminate all tax-based police departments and allow the free market to provide police services
@4XYN4HZ4yrs4Y
I believe that with the world we live in today, where a young man who actually committed two crimes (theft and beating a policeman until he had to go to the hospital) dies from being shot in self defense and he is the hero, it is absolutely 100% in the interest of the officer to wear this device. Generations struggled for equality and most did so under the non-violent protests and gatherings of Dr. King, Jr. Those courageous people did not suffer and bleed and March just for their grandchildren and great grandchildren could just throw down the race card and the start rioting and looting and… Read more
@8FYQYQH4yrs4Y
Yes, but preferably, we should decrease the amount of police that we have in the first place, and spend the resources instead on helping the local community.
No, it gives too much leverage to the pigs
@92DYGCT2yrs2Y
Yes, and they shouldn't be allowed to reduce or edit the video recorded by the body camera.
@8XLR4JX 8mos8MO
Yes, and there should be clear consequences for tampering with the device’s footage.
@Jones4Potus2024 8mos8MO
Yes, and should face punitive action if they turn it off at any time while on duty
Yes, but preferably abolish the police.
@8PXHX243yrs3Y
Yes, but I'd rather abolish the police
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